After his release from the Denver Broncos, quarterback Russell Wilson did not have to wait long until another team came calling for his services. On March 10, the Pittsburgh Steelers signed the veteran to a low-risk 1-year contract. Unfortunately for Denver, they will take a huge cap hit after releasing Wilson, meaning they will have to pay $85 million over the next 2 years for a player who won’t be playing for them.
For the Steelers, they now have their answer at quarterback for at least the short-term. Wilson joins a team coming off an unexpected playoff appearance whose biggest weakness was the QB position. 2022 first-round pick Kenny Pickett underperformed, and Mitch Trubisky and Mason Rudolph provided no stability last season.
Now, Pittsburgh is hopeful that Wilson, a Super Bowl champion, can provide veteran leadership and consistency to their offense. Often overlooked is the surprisingly steady season Wilson provided the Broncos in 2023 in the midst of the overall dumpster fire that was the rest of the team. Wilson passed for 26 touchdowns while only throwing 8 interceptions.
As it stands, Pittsburgh has a solid core group of young skill players that can support the quarterback. George Pickens is a star wide receiver in the making, and Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren are a formidable running back tandem. To top everything off, Mike Tomlin is one of the best coaches in the entire NFL and has a track record of making the best out of any situation. Look no further than last season’s postseason appearance.
Even if the signing does not work out, there is still a good possibility that Wilson can take Pickett under his wing and help him develop. While Pickett’s future with the team is not clear at the moment, it might be too early to make a final judgment call on their former top pick. Needless to say, I think the Steeler’s fanbase has reason to be excited for what Wilson can bring.
